Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Lebanon, NH – Sprinkler system activated for fire in warehouse; No injuries reported

A Benning Street warehouse was damaged in a fire Thursday evening.

Lebanon firefighters responded to a fire alarm activation at 82 Benning St. shortly after 9:30 p.m., according to a Lebanon Fire Department news release. No one was injured. Firefighters are still investigating the cause, which is “not believed to be suspicious.”

After responders discovered black smoke coming from the 163,000-square-foot, mixed-use warehouse, they sent out a call for additional assistance.

“Initial investigation revealed a heavy smoke condition in the front office portion of the building with active sprinkler flow,” according to the release. Firefighters found that that the sprinkler system stopped the fire from spreading beyond the room where it had started, illustrating “how a working sprinkler system significantly reduced property loss and helped the single occupant in the building escape safely.”

Firefighters — including those from the Hartford, Hanover and Norwich fire departments — remained on the scene until 10:45 p.m.

The building is owned by Worcester, Mass.-based Benning Street LLC, and has an assessed value of $7.6 million, according to Lebanon property records.

Residential, Residential High Rise

Ann Arbor, MI – Sprinkler system extinguishes fire at high-rise apartment building; No injuries reported

Firefighters are investigating how a plastic plant in the 7th floor lobby of the Court House Square Apartments caught on fire Tuesday morning.

Ann Arbor Fire Department personnel arrive at the downtown highrise around 7:27 a.m. to find smoke and flowing water on the 7th floor.

Officials said the floor’s sprinkler system — activated by the on-fire plant — extinguished the fire. An elevator and several floors were damaged by the water but no one was injured.

Firefighters consider the incident suspicious.

Court House Square apartments are at 100 S. Fourth Ave.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Wilmington, NC – Sprinkler system contains fire at commercial building; No injuries reported

Crews responded to a fire in downtown Wilmington at the Roudabush Building Tuesday morning, July 16, according to the city’s fire department.

Per the Wilmington Fire Department, firefighters responded to a business on S Front Street at around 11:15 a.m. The fire was contained by the sprinkler system, and nobody was injured.

As the businesses survey the damage, both The Husk and Yosake are closed.

“We are thankful for everyone who has already been a part of trying to get us back on our feet, and we will keep everyone posted as we move forward from this. We hope to see you soon,” a Yosake announcement states.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Helena, AL – Sprinkler system activated for fire at Publix grocery store; No injuries reported

A grocery store has some minor damage after a fire Monday afternoon.

According to the Helena Fire Department, crews were dispatched to the Publix on Highway 17 just after 12:45 p.m. Monday.

Fire officials confirmed smoke was coming from the restroom area of the store. They say the building’s fire sprinkler system helped put out the fire quickly. Damage was limited to the restroom area.

Store employees quickly evacuated the store, even before firefighters arrived. No one was hurt.

The cause of the fire has not been released.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Newark, DE – Two separate commercial building fires contained by sprinkler systems; No injuries reported

The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office determined that  two commercial building fires over the weekend were accidental.

The first fire  occurred on Friday at about 7:15 p.m. at the Tri State Battery building on 107 Albe Drive off Old Baltimore Pike, south of Newark.

Deputy firemarshal’s  went  to the scene and determined that an electrical malfunction with a lithium-ion battery ignited combustibles.

The fire was contained by the sprinkler system until the Fire Department arrived. Damage to the building is estimated at $75,000 and no injuries were reported.

The second fire was reported on  Saturday at around 12:30 p.m.  at the Delaware Solid Waste Authority, 1101 Lambsons Lane in New Castle.

Deputy fire marshals  determined the fire was caused by an undetermined heat source igniting combustibles inside of the building.

The fire was contained by the sprinkler system until firefighters   arrived. Damage to the building is estimated at $100,000 and no injuries were reported.

Apartment Building, Residential

Kelowna, BC, Canada – Sprinkler system activated for balcony fire at apartment building; No injuries reported

A Saturday evening balcony fire was quickly prevented from spreading after a sprinkler activated and doused the blaze.

Just after 5 pm, the Kelowna Fire Department received a call about a fire on the balcony of an apartment building in the 1200 block of Richter Street.

Upon arrival, the crews could see an activated sprinkler on the fourth-floor balcony, with no smoke or flames visible.

Crews went to investigate and found there had been a small fire on the balcony, which was contained by a sprinkler.

There was minor damage to the contents and the exterior of the apartment. No injuries were reported and all residents were able to return to their suites.

KFD responded with three engine companies, one ladder truck, a rescue truck and a command vehicle.

Apartment Building, Residential

Roanoke, VA – Sprinkler system extinguished fire at apartment complex; No injuries reported

An unattended fire in Roanoke County on Thursday has forced several apartments to be vacated.

At 1:54 p.m. Roanoke County Fire and Rescue responded to the Ridgeview Apartments on Hawthorne Road in the North County area of Roanoke County, for a reported commercial structure fire.

Responding units arrived to find nothing showing from the outside of the multi-story apartment building. Once inside, crews found evidence of a fire on the fifth floor that had been extinguished by the sprinkler system.

Crews said fire damage was minimal but water from the sprinkler head did cause about $20,000 in damage and displaced four units.

Those displaced are either staying with family and friends, are being helped by the management at Ridgeview Apartments, or are being assisted by their renter’s insurance, according to Roanoke County Fire and Rescue.

There were no injuries and working smoke alarms and sprinkler systems both played a role in keeping residents safe.

The Roanoke County Fire Marshal’s Office reports that the cause of the fire was unattended melting wax on a stovetop.

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Worton, MD – Sprinkler system activated for fire at warehouse; No injuries reported

It took three hours to investigate, then clear smoke and related combustion elements from a one story commercial warehouse at Crea Fill Fibers Corporation, 10200 Worton Road on July 4.

According to initial reports the fire was due to a malfunction within the shredder, that activated the fire alarm initiating a fire department response. The sprinkler system was activated and controlled within the warehouse until the fire department arrived.

However, because the company was closed for the holiday, the cause of the incident was deemed suspicious, causing a representative from the fire marshal’s office to arrive.

It’s still under investigation according to the fire marshal’s report.

Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company Deputy Chief 6 Brad Rossum was first to arrive at 10:16 p.m. He noticed smoke and water from one of the processing buildings. He then called for mutual aid companies to investigate the scene.

Using a special key they only use for emergency situations, (recorded to prevent any mishandling) they opened the door and discovered it was so smoky there was zero visibility. Officials discovered that the water was coming from the sprinkler system, which was a series of sprinkler heads.

Using a thermal imaging camera, officials discovered no fire within the smoke at the industrial shredder.

The sprinkler system did its job, preventing $60,000 of damage.

The challenge for officials was removing the smoke, carbon monoxide and other elements from a tall building. They employed high-velocity fans while wearing their Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses, and it took them three hours to compete the job.

A representative from the Maryland Fire Marshal’s Office is performing an Origin and Cause investigation.

While Chestertown was committed to the incident, Millington Community Fire Company stood by at their station against the possibility of another incident in the Chestertown district.

There were no injuries reported.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Medford, OR – Sprinkler system contains fire in office space at commercial building; No injuries reported

Firefighters with the Medford Fire Department put out a small fire that sparked at Roseburg Forest Products Tuesday evening.

According to MFD, the fire, which was burning above a small office space, was largely contained by the sprinkler system inside the building.

In a Facebook post, the department said, “had the sprinkler system not been in place, the fire would have been much larger by the time crews arrived on scene. We want to take this opportunity to highlight the importance of maintaining fire protection systems in buildings.”

No one was injured and the cause is being investigated.

Apartment Building, Residential

Madison, WI – Sprinkler system prevents porch fire from spreading; No injuries reported

A water sprinkler prevented a porch fire from spreading at an east side apartment complex Tuesday, Madison Fire Department reports.

According to MFD, firefighters responded around 5:45 a.m. to the 2500 block of Winnebago Street.

When firefighters arrived on scene, authorities said they saw smoke showing from a first-floor porch and people were evacuating the building.

Once the fire was out, firefighters checked to see if the fire had spread into the apartment, but it did not.

The fire damaged flowerpots, a rug and patio furniture. No one was injured.

Authorities said the exact cause of the fire is unknown. But law enforcement said based on evidence found at the scene, the fire may have been caused by improperly discarded smoking materials or by a citronella candle.

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